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Green vote decides coalition fate Green vote decides coalition fate
(30 minutes later)
The survival of the Irish government hinges on a vote at a Green Party convention to be held in Dublin later. The survival of the Irish government hinges on a vote at a Green Party convention being held in Dublin.
Crucial talks between the party and its coalition partner, Fianna Fail, on Friday ended with a new programme for government being agreed.Crucial talks between the party and its coalition partner, Fianna Fail, on Friday ended with a new programme for government being agreed.
The Green Party had said its two cabinet ministers would resign if no agreement was reached.The Green Party had said its two cabinet ministers would resign if no agreement was reached.
Delegates have to endorse the programme by a two-thirds majority or it will fail, bringing down the coalition.Delegates have to endorse the programme by a two-thirds majority or it will fail, bringing down the coalition.
The meeting between Fianna Fail and the Greens on Friday lasted several hours longer than expected before agreement was reached on the main stumbling blocks of education and political reform.The meeting between Fianna Fail and the Greens on Friday lasted several hours longer than expected before agreement was reached on the main stumbling blocks of education and political reform.
Proposals include work experience in government departments for 1,000 graduates; no fees for third-level education; the declaration of the Republic of Ireland as a GM-free zone; working towards the deployment of 6,000 electric vehicles over the next three years; the introduction of a civil partnership bill before the end of the year and an end to long-term homelessness by the end of 2010. Proposals include work experience in government departments for 1,000 graduates, no fees for third-level education, and 500 teaching posts to be created over the next three years.
On political reform, the two key Green Party demands have been met - a ban on corporate donations and the introduction of a system of vouched expenses for politicians. On political reform, the Greens' two key demands have been met - a ban on corporate donations and the introduction of a system of vouched expenses for politicians.
Office
The document is designed to provide the basis for government action until the end of its term of office in 2012.The document is designed to provide the basis for government action until the end of its term of office in 2012.
The Greens, who entered the Irish government in 2007 for the first time, were all but wiped out in local elections in June amid public anger over the administration's handling of a severe recession.
Recent polls in the Republic have suggested that the coalition partners would perform very badly in a general election.
On the National Asset Management Agency - the repository for the so-called "toxic loans" dragging down the Republic's banking system - the programme proposes that if a loss is made over time, a levy would be imposed to recoup the cost to taxpayers.
Participating institutions will be obliged to offer a deposit account which will be ringfenced for lending to environmentally-friendly projects.
Other measures include the declaration of the Republic of Ireland as a GM-free zone; working towards the deployment of 6,000 electric vehicles over the next three years; the introduction of a civil partnership bill before the end of the year and an end to long-term homelessness by the end of 2010.